Box, container, and the like



Marh 23, 1937. L. c. RABAUT BOX, CONTAINER, AND THE LIKE Filed April 14, 1954 INVENTOR. Lou/Z5 C/ iabauzf BY ATTORNEYS.

55 withcomplementary cover 7 portions l 4.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in boxes or containers.

An object is to provide a box with an improved cover which is adaptedto be readily secured in place overthe top of the box or to be quickly and easily withdrawn to render the interior of the box accessible for filling or removal of its contents. The construction of the box and cover is such that upon withdrawal of thecover from the top of the box it is-adapted to fall over one side wall and automatically releasably lock itself in place thereover secure against flappingoraccidental displacement.

My improvement is particularly adapted 'for containers of thebeer case type. It is desirable that containers of this type be convenient for handling either with the covers closed or open. When the box is closed the cover should besecurely fastened down. When the box is open the "2 cover should be held securely in place against swinging about. In my box the cover is so secured, either in the open or in the closed relation, that the box may be freely shifted or transported without disturbing the cover.

My improved covered box is so constructed that it is convenient for stacking either open or closed. The cover is so articulated with the lower portion of the box that while it is held securely in place in either open or closedrelation- .ship the connections are not subjected to strains or stresses.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious characteristics will more fully appear from the following. description, appended claims, and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1. isanend elevation of a box embodying my invention,

Fig. 2. is an end elevation of a fragment of the box shown inFig. 1 with the cover closed,

Fig. 3 is a plan of the end fragment .of the box shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. .5 Ba cross sectional view showing one of 45 the flange. engaging studs.

While my improvements are shownas embodied in a container of the beer case type, it is obviously. adapted for use with other types of containers. ;In thedrawing I have shown a box 50 of this character indicated as Whavinga bottom,

ends, and opposite side walls and hand apertures l2. The interior of this box would be fitted in a v manner well known .to receive the bottles, if used as a beer case. This box isshown as provided These covers are so connected with the box as to be movable toa position over the top of the box to close the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or to a position overhanging the opposite side walls as shown in Fig. 1.

Each cover I4 is provided at each end with a depending portion here shown in the form of a flange l6 secured byrivets or the like l8 to cover. This flange is provided with aslot 20 whichextends substantially parallel to the cover adjacent to the lower edge of the flange. This slot is shaped as shown. The inner end of the slot is turned upwardly angularly toward the cover as at 22. The outer end of the slot is turned upwardly vertically toward the cover as at 24.

Each end of the box is provided adjacent its outer upper corner with a stud 26 which extends through the slot20 asshown. In this manner each cover is secured at each end slidably to the box so that it may be moved either to the position shown in Fig. 2 or to the position shown at the right hand edge of Fig. 1, tilting over the side wall of the box as shown at the left hand edge of Fig. 1. The clearance is. such that the cover is freely slidable and each side wall of the box may be bevelled as at 28 to facilitate this slidable movement of the cover.

Each flange I6 is provided at its inner end with a shoulder 30. Each end of the box is provided adjacent to the top, at the meeting line of the cover sections, with a pin 32 which is adapted when the covers are closed over the top of the box to engage the shoulders 30 of the cover flanges to hold the two covers in position asshown in Fig. 2. In this position the studs 26 are seated in the inturned end portions 24 of the slots 20. In the closed position the cover is held, by the engagement of the shoulder at one end of the flange underneath the pin member 32 and the seating of the stud 26 in the angular end portion of the slot 2|], against withdrawal to an open position except following a lifting of the outer -margin of the cover to release the engagement of the stud 26 within the end portion of the groove.

When the cover is in the position shown in Fig. 1 at the right overhanging the box it is likewise securely held in place. To accomplish this the outer lower corner of the flange is bevelled as at 34 and is provided with a. notch 36 which is adapted to engage over a stud 38 secured to the end of the box adjacent side wall and below the stud 30.

As the cover is moved outwardly from the closedcposition to the position shown in Fig. 1 at the left it is allowed to drop to the position shown the side wall of the in Fig. l at the right. The weight of the cover is suflicient normally to cause the bevel edge 34 to slide over the stud 38 until the notch 36 engages thereover and locks the cover in the position as shown. In this position the cover is held snugly toward the side wall of the box so that it will not swing away from it during transportation and the box can be shifted and moved about without the cover becoming detached. To release it from this latched relationship it is necessary to lift up on the cover.

When the covers are closed they may be sealed in the closed relationship by passing a wire 40 through the apertures 42 the ends of which wire may be sealed in a manner well known.

It will appear that the flanges are set back slightly from the meeting edges, of the covers as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. If it is found that due to swelling or the like the covers are too tight these meeting edges may be shaved off without disturbing the flanges and the flanges will still meet underneath the headed pin 32 to lock the covers in place.

It will be noted that when the covers are arranged overlying the side walls that the upper edges thereof are spaced below the upper edges of the side Walls of the box so as to be protected and not to interfere with the stacking of the boxes. It will also be noted that there is no weight or strain imposed upon the hardware as the cover lies flat on the top of the box, the connections merely securing it in place, and when the cover is open the only weight imposed upon the connections is that of the cover itself.

While moving the cover from the open to the closed position it is lifted upwardly from its lower edge. When the cover is to be moved from the closed to the open position it is lifted upwardly from the outer edge to permit its withdrawal from engagement with the stud 32.

Fig.5 shows a cross section through the box illustrating one of the flange engaging studs such as 26 or 38 in elevation.

Throughout the specification and claims applicant intends that the terms stud and pin designating elements 26 and 32 shall not be limited to the specific structures shown but shall designate the type of projecting securing elements of a similar character adapted to perform the same functions in a similar manner.

What I claim:

a 1. In combination, a box, a cover therefor having flanges depending over opposite ends of the box, said flanges provided with slots, said box ends provided with studs extending through said slots securing the cover to the box while permitting movement thereof from a position of closure over the top of the box to an open position overhanging a side wall of the box, each end of the box provided with a second stud spaced below the first stud and adapted to cooperate with the flange on the cover to releasably lock said cover in position adjacent to the side wall of the box.

2. In combination with a box, a cover having flanges depending over opposite ends of the box andprovided with slots extending substantially parallel to the top of the box, studs carried by the box ends extending through said slots securing the cover to the box while permitting movement thereof to a position over the top of the box or to a position overlying one side wall thereof, a second stud carried by each end of the box spaced below the first studs adapted to cooper-- ate with the end of the flange to releasably secure the cover over the side wall of the box.

3. In combination with a box, a cover having flanges depending over opposite ends of the box and provided with slots extending substantially parallel to the top of the box, studs carried by the box ends extending through said slots securing the cover to the box while permitting movement thereof to a position over the top of the box or to a position overlying one side wall thereof, a second stud carried by each end of the box spaced below the first studs adapted to cooperate with the ends of the flanges to releasably secure the cover over the side wall of the box, and a pin carried by each end of the box spaced adjacent the top thereof and adapted to cooperate with the opposite end of the flange to releasably secure the cover over the top of the box.

4. In combination, a box, complementary covers therefor each provided with flanges depending over opposite ends of the box, said flanges provided with slots, a pair of studs carried by each end of the box arranged adjacent opposite sides thereof and extending through the slots in said flanges securing said covers to the box while permitting the covers to be moved toward each other to a position of closure over the top of the box or away from each other to a position overhanging opposite side walls of the box, a second pair of studs carried by each end of the box arranged adjacent to opposite side walls thereof spaced below said first studs, said flanges provided with notches in their outer ends adapted to engage said second pair of studs to secure the covers over said sides of the box, each end of the box provided with a pin arranged adjacent to the top of the box at approximately the meeting line of said covers, said flanges provided With notches in their meeting ends adapted to engage said pin to engage the covers in place over the box.

5. In combination, a box, covers therefor each having elements overhanging opposite ends of the box, said box ends provided with means slidably engaging said elements and securing the covers to the box to permit slidable movement of the covers to a position of closure over the top of the box or to a position overhanging the opposite sides of the box, said box ends provided with parts adapted to engage said elements to releasably lock the covers in said position overhanging the sides of the box and provided with parts adapted to engage said elements adapted to secure said covers over the top of the box.

6. In combination, a box, covers therefor each having elements overhanging opposite ends of the I box, said box ends provided with means slidably engaging said elements and securing the covers to the box to permit slidable movement of the covers to a position of closure over the top of the box or to a position overhanging the opposite sides of the box, said box ends provided with parts adapted to engage the outer ends of said elements to releasably lock said covers over the sides of the box and provided with other parts adapted to engage the inner ends of the elements to lock the covers over the top of the box.

'7. In combination, a box, a cover having portions overhanging opposite ends of the box, said ends provided with means cooperating with said portions securing the cover to the box while permitting slidable movement of the cover to a position over the top of the box or to a position overhanging one-side wall of the box, said box ends provided with parts adapted to cooperate with said cover portions to releasably lock the cover in place over the top of the box and provided with other parts adapted to cooperate with said cover portions to releasably lock said cover in place over the side walls of the box and supported thereby.

8. In combination, a box, a cover having portions overhanging opposite ends of the box, said ends provided with means cooperating with said portions securing the cover to the box While permitting slidable movement of the cover to a position over the top of the box or to a position overhanging one side wall of the box, said box ends provided with parts spaced below said means adapted to cooperate with said cover portions to releasably lock the cover in place over one side wall of the box and provided with other parts spaced away from said means toward the opposite side wall of the box adapted to cooperate with said cover portions to releasably lock said cover in place over the top of the box.

9. In combination, a box, a cover therefor having slotted portions overhanging each end of the box, said ends provided with studs extending through said slots connecting the cover with the box for slidable movement to a positionover the top of the box or to a position overhanging one side wall thereof, said slots having end portions extending towardthe cover, a pin carried by each end of the box arranged adjacent to the top spaced away from the stud and toward the opposite side wall of the box, each cover portion provided with a shoulder at one end adapted to engage said p-in to releasably lock the cover over the top of the box, another stud carried by each end of the box arranged adjacent to the outer side wall spaced below said first named stud, each cover portion provided on the end opposite the shoulder with a notch adapted to engage said last named stud to releasably lock the cover over the side wall of the box and with bevelled corners extending from said notch toward the lower edge of the portion.

10. In combination, a box, complementary covers therefor having end flanges overhanging the opposite ends of the box, said flanges provided with slots extending substantially parallel to the cover and having angular end portions extending toward the cover, each end of the box provided with a pair of studs arranged adjacent opposite upper corners and extending through the slots in the flanges of the covers, each end of the box provided with a pin arranged adjacent to the top intermediate said pair of studs, said flanges having shoulders formed on their meeting ends adapted to engage said pin when the covers are closed over the top of the box, each end of the box provided with a pair of studs arranged adjacent and spaced below said first pair of studs, said cover flanges provided with notches on their outer ends adapted to engage said last named studs when the covers overhang the side walls of the box.

11. In combination, a box, a cover therefor having flanges overhanging opposite ends of the box and provided with slots extending parallel to the cover with opposite ends of the slots turned angularly toward the cover, a stud arranged adjacent to the outer upper corner of each end of the box extending through said slots, said cover slidable to a position over the top of the box with the studs disposed in the outer angular end portions of said slots and slidable to a position overhanging a side wall of the box with the studs disposed in the inner angular end portions of said slots, means cooperating with the inner ends of the flanges to releasably lock the cover over the top of the box, means cooperating with the outer ends of the flanges to releasably lock the cover over the side wall of the box.

12. In combination, a box, a cover having flanges depending over opposite ends of the box, each flange provided with a runway extending substantially parallel to the top of the box and being angularly upturned at each end thereof, a connection carried by each end of the box extending into the adjacent runway permitting slidable movement of the cover to a position over the top of the box or to a position overhanging the side wall of the box in either of which positions the connections will be disposed in the uppermost angular end portions of the runways, said cover being supported by said connection spaced below the upper edge of said side wall, and means carried by the ends of the box engaging the lower ends of the flanges releasably locking the cover in place over said side wall.

13. In combination, a box, a cover therefor having flanges depending alongside the opposite ends of the box, means slidably connecting said flanges to the box permitting the cover to have one position over the top of the box and a second position lying adjacent one side wall thereof, each end of the box provided with a stud adapted to cooperate with the flange on the cover when the latter is moved to open position adjacent said side wall to releasably lock said cover in position adjacent to said side wall of the box.

14. In combination, a box, complementary covers therefor having flanges depending alongside the opposite ends of the box, said flanges being slidably connected with the box permitting the covers to have one position over the top of the box and a second position lying adjacent each side wall thereof, said covers having a pin in common protruding from each end of the box under which the flanges of each cover are adapted to slide and releasably lock the covers on top of the box.

LOUIS C. RABAU'I'. 

